Wynter was the best and most clueless yet cunning leading man I have had the pleasure to read about in a LONG time!! This book made me laugh and giggle at the wild antics he and his children displayed the uptight English Society. I found his mother to be refreshingly loving of her son no matter what the outcome. =)~ This definitly one of my newest FAVORITE

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RULES OF SURRENDER is the delightful first installment in Christina Dodds trilogy of three ingenious young ladies who set up a school for governesses to seize control of their lives.

Lady Charlotte Dalrumple is hired by Lady Ruskin to make her Eastern-raised grandchildren into perfect English children. But Charlottes challenge is not the children, but their father, Wynter, whose outspoken nature, mocking attitude and unbridled sensuality, make him fascinating and dangerous to prim and proper Charlotte.

The children are lovable and bright and Charlotte can handle them, but their teasing, taunting father is another story, The wonderful cat and mouse battle of wills that ensues between Charlotte and Wynter will warm readers right down to their toes

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Excellent book by Christina Dodd. The cold governess is forced to confront her past and manage a barbaric, yet handsome Englishman who has been away from England for too long. While instructing his children, she learns a few instructions herself. Likable characters make this a quick steamy read.

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Great story!! I love Wynter and his misguided notions of marriage, love, and courtship.

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Enjoyed most of the book, but the ending seemed like they rushed a bit for a happy resolution which then caused it to be a bit unrealistic. I could see that Wynter was "thawing" and learning some important lessons, but he didn't really get to where I felt he needed for Charlotte to be so happy to accept him. It was an entertaining read though and I loved the kids which is unusual for me :-)

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I don't know about everyone else, but I hated Wynter's arrogant, condescending ways. I also hated their wedding night. When a woman screams "no" over and over, and physically fights a man off every step of the way, isn't that rape? I found it distasteful.

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This didn't really work for me. While Wynter was very romantic and Charlotte was a good match for him, I just never could connect with either character. Further I found the primary romantic conflict - his belief that a man can never love a woman - annoying and contrived. I think given their very different background, their disparate family lives, the fact that he's been married and has two children, that he has lived in another country by another set of social rules for his entire adult life - that would be enough conflict without this love business. Charlotte's past "scandal" also seemed weak and her easy abandonment of her strict social etiquette maligned her character for me.

There were some very sexy scenes between Wynter and Charlotte which saved the book, but it was largely a disappointment. I've read Christina Dodd contemporary romance and I much prefer it to this. I feel her characterization and the understanding of the time period to be lacking.

3 stars

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